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When you first hear the term internet addiction, you may smile and think this new term is a joke. Okay, so maybe people do waste a lot of time on the internet. But how can that be such a bad thing?
Yet, internet addiction can be a serious problem. Like many addictions, it is a compulsive disorder. First, take the word addiction itself. Addiction means that you are dependent on something, it is taking up a lot of your time. Now think about the time one can waste on the internet. Okay, so an hour here and there isn't a bad thing. But if a person is addicted to the internet they will be online longer than just an hour and it won't just be an event that happens occasionally, being online is something they do daily for hours on end. This addiction can lead to time away from family and friends. It can even led to time that should be spent at work.
Internet addiction can be further explained into subcategories, too. One may not just be addicted to the internet. One can get addicted to certain activities that perform while on the internet such as: online auctions, online chat rooms, online surfing, online gaming, and this addiction can even led to more serious online problems such as online gambling and online cybersex.
How do you know if you have a problem? You should start by looking at your internet habits. Then ask yourself such questions as: How often are you online? Does being online ever interfere with your work or home duties and if so how often does it? How often do you check your email? Do people in your home complain about how often you are online? Do you continue to search out new online friends? When you are not online do you anticipate when you can go back online? Do you get annoyed when someone interrupts you while you are online? Do you loose sleep because you are online late at night? Do you ever hide the length of time you were online?
The answer to the above questions can indicate that you have a problem. If you think you do, what should you do? Like with any other health problem, you may want to consider counseling. If you can't afford counseling, you may want to check out some websites that offers some help.
It may seem strange that there are websites that help with online addiction. Yet, if you think about it online websites may be the best place for online addiction sufferer to seek help. A great site is netaddiction.com. At this site, they further explain what online addiction is. They also have online self tests you can take, to see if you have a problem and to see just how deep your problem is. They also offer advice for more serious online problems such as online gambling and online cybersex activities. They even have chat rooms where recovering addicts and family members of recovering addicts can come together and share.
Should one avoid the internet for fear of getting addicted, no? The internet is a wonderful tool. You can learn a lot online. Plus, it is a great place to just relax and have fun. But moderation is the key in any activity, including the internet.
Parents should also monitor their children to make sure that they are not becoming addicted to the internet. Some children, especially teenagers, have problems building friendships and relationships. You don't want your child's only friendships to be on the internet.
The internet and your online friends should not take the place of real life and real life people. If you remember that one sentence, you will continue to enjoy the internet in a healthy way.
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